Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-02-23
Special TO Morning Neos.
A HARD QUESTION.
What Shall be Done with King
James Brains?

Paris Letter in London Times.
An account was giving nearly four
years ago of the discovery at the Scotch
college of two leaden cases, believed to
contain the brains of James IL. and the
heart OF the Duchess OF Perth. In laying
a pipe under the chapel floor the work
men came on a cavity, in which these
relics were picked up. Monseigneur
Rogerson, administrator OF the Scotch
endowments, who showed them to me,
was of opinion that this pit had been dug
In readiness for an intended massacre,
either OF the persons confined in the
college or of the English Austin nuns
next door; but it is more likely to have
resulted from the eXbumation of a coffin
for the sake of the lead or of other articles
of value. Monseigneur Rogerson's ORR
ginal Intention was to renter the relics,
but in quiet way. SO as to avoid risk0f
prOfan alton, and he did not evt n inform
the tenants of the college (now occupied
as boys boarding school that the cases
had any historical interest.
He was not then aware, however that
the brains of James ii. were formerly in
a gilt bronze urn, attached to a tablet
on the wall. This urn disappeared DUR
ing the revolution, and the L. alden case
discovery of 1888. AS there is no record
of any other cases with such contents
having ever been splaced In the college,
the presumption as to the identity of those
found In almost irresistible. The an
nouncement of the discovery evoked in
quiries from the highest quarter as to the
authenticity and safe keeping of the
brains of James III.
Monseigneur Rogerson, who took
strong interest in the Stuarts, died three
years ago, and what had become OF the
relics, still apparently in his possession
up to that time, was question OF obvious
interest. He had no relatives in France,
his kinared in the north of England were
not likely to have interested themselves
IN these relics, and the new administrator
Is French ecclesiastic, who returned
no answer to an inquiry addressed to
him.
l have, however, now ascertained that
the cases are in the safe keeping OF Mon
seigneur Rogerson's executor, Mr..
O'Keenan, a solicitor, pending a decision
as to their ultimate disposal. The
Duchess OF Perth has no lneal descend
ants, at least in the male line, and as her
heart was originally deposited under an
inscribed slab on the chapel floor, it might
fifty be replaced there.
The brains Of James ii. might perhaps
be inserted in anew urn, to be placed
where the old one stood; but the Scotch
college is now French school, and
though the tenants are very courteous to
their rare British visitors, better known
depository might perhaps be found. The
brains might perhaps be inferred at St.
German, with what are the only other
remains of James H., namely, part OF the
flesh removed in the process OF embalm-
ing, and portion OF his bowels. These
were discovered sixty years ago, while
church was beng restored, aud George
Nv. placed an inscription over them,
which Queen Victoria has restored.
The body itself, conflded to the English
Benedictines. in the expectation that it
would eventually be transferred to W est
minister Abbey, disappeared during the
revolution, and was probably thrown into
a quarry. Other relics OF James III. In
Paris, at st. Omer, and elsewhere, like
wise disappeared. and piece OF his arm
preserved till 1871 by the Austin nuns
was made away with by the Commune,
which used the Neuilly convent as a par
rack. There is consequently every rea-
son for insurlng the preservation of
the relic. Mir. O'Keenan is in CON-
munication with Scotch Catholic
Bishops, and meanwhile the case Is in safe
custody.